AUGUSTA- The Maine Democratic Party and Maine Center for Economic Policy (MECEP) continues to defend the status quo in Augusta.
Here’s the real truth behind their talking points
“It’s a huge giveaway to the wealthy.” FALSE
Leave it to Democrats to suggest that letting ALL MAINE PEOPLE keep
their money is a giveaway to the wealthy. The current income tax treats
income tax taxes everybody as if they were wealthy, with the top rate
starting at $21k.
The Democrats object to moving anyone off the income tax rolls. In their so-called Better Deal, they rejected the Governor’s proposal to exempt individuals with income less than $9,7000 and started taxing income at $5,200. If they consider people making more than $5,200 a year wealthy, we might need more than a Constitutional amendment to set them straight.
What we’re proposing is to let
people decide how to spend their own money and to stop penalizing work
and investment in Maine. What Democrats are saying is that they know
better than you do how to spend your money.
“It jeopardizes funding for education and other vital services.” FALSE and IRRESPONSIBLE
Democrats used
the same tactics when we passed the tax cut in 2011 and it hasn’t come
to fruition. Education funding in Maine has far outpaced inflation while
our student population has declined. We need to focus on growing our
private sector economy, not growing government spending. If Democrats
are ready to get serious about education reform, let’s have that
conversation rather than dragging our kids and our vulnerable
populations into false political posturing.
“It will trigger property tax increases.” FALSE
Eliminating the income tax is a state-level tax proposal. It would have
no impact on property taxes. Let’s be clear, we’re not linking the
elimination of the income tax to eliminating any specific programs or
other revenue-generating options.
“It will make an unfair tax system even less fair.” FALSE
Subjecting
Mainers to one of the largest tax burdens in the country is unfair.
Creating an economy where young people flee for lack of opportunity is
unfair. The status quo is unfair.
The Property Tax Fairness
Credit and the Sales Tax Fairness Credit proposed in the latest budget
proposal are examples of the types of tools available.
“It is a failed prescription for growing Maine’s economy.” FALSE –
New
Hampshire’s economy is exceedingly healthy with this prescription. They
have faster GDP growth, higher incomes, and a consistently lower
unemployment rate. The status quo is a demonstrably failed prescription
for Maine’s economy.
BOTTOM Line:
LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE. By passing the Constitutional amendment through the legislature, we allow the people of Maine to decide how they will be taxed. They will have to approve it by referendum.